Welcome to the dog days of Summer.
Summer has been rushing past us in a blur, bringing us to mid-August already. I truly hope that you all have been able to find time for yourselves and have been able to relax and get some reading done. If not, it is not too late, there are still plenty of warm days ahead of us. It has been a very exciting and busy summer here at The Calm Scribe office, from contests to foreign films, there is much to discuss so let's dive in.
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The Calm Scribe Quits...
... Smoking. At long last I feel solid enough in my journey of quitting smoking to share the news with you my fans. As of August 22 I will officially be free of cigarettes for 1 full year. In honour of this milestone I have created a team on Kiva.org named, Writers Who Care. I have already helped fund two loans and would ask that you join me and help make a positive difference in other peoples lives.
Contests
As always, Summer is a hotly contested time of year, causing pens to start scratching on pads all over. My pen is no different than the others, here is a list of competitions I am waiting or will be waiting to hear back from. Of course I will share any results as they come in.
- Flash Fiction Challenge 2017 - Entry, The World's Doorstep
- Pitch Wars - Entry, Project Persyphious
- Asthetica Magazine Short Story Challenge - Entry, TBD (To be determined).
- Vallum Magazine Poetry Competiton, Entry, 2 poems Falling and From Above
- Zoetrope: All-Story Short Fiction, (Entry dependant on the result of Pitch Wars)
- American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest, (Entry dependant on the result of Pitch Wars)
More to come.
Wattpad
The Calm Scribe is on Wattpad! The success of The Ferryman's Wife on Instagram prompted me to set up an account and start writing stories for Wattpad. I have also entered The Ferryman's Wife into the Watty's 2017. Be sure to follow me on that platform for never before seen stories and to vote for my horror serial.
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After the wonderful test reads and reworking, Project Persyphious is complete and is now beginning the next stage of its progression, competitions and finding a Publishing House. Look for more details as they arrive.
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Projects On The Go
Test readers needed, soon. As before with Project Persyphious, I will once again be opening applications for test readers for my book of short stories, All That is Left Behind. As can be surmised from the title, the stories in this book are meant to horrify, stress, and make you cry. This book is not for the faint of heart, caution is advised.
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Being a writer allows for all kinds of wonderful opportunities, one of which came to me recently. For the past few weeks I have had the opportunity to consult on a foreign film in Islamabad, Pakistan. This is a wonderful new challenge as the script is in English, but all of the dialogue is in Urdu. It is an adaptation of a suspenseful short story and hopefully will be shot in the Fall. (No, I will not be making the trip.) I will update you all as I am able.
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What has become unofficially known as, The Coffee Story, is coming along very nicely and should be finished by the end of this month. I will posting sections of it on my website in the future. This is a story of perhaps the best cup of coffee you will ever drink, Jamaican Blue Mountain, and a farmer who is becoming a fast friend.
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September will see further work on, Violet and the King Prince and The Extinction Protocol and more layout for my epic space opera. That's right, there is a space opera in the works, but don't get too excited just yet, this one's going to take a few years.
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Recommendations of the month:
Scrivener:
Sorry but this recommendation is mainly for writers, but luckily writers of all kinds! If you are a student, poet, writer, screen-writer, or any other kind of writer this program is for you. It is not just another writing app, it is a writing program made for writers by a writer and is a must have! Check them out.
Book Challenge 2017: (Updated)
Each year I set a goal for how many books I will read. Last year I did not hit my goal, yet this year I am already deep into my challenge. In 2017 my goal is to read 26 books. I have found a fun list which makes this goal easier to attain. Each book is a challenge, for example, a book you can read in a day or a book with over 500 pages. So far I am into my seventh book and will keep track of them here so they may serve as suggestions. Follow me on Litsy or Goodreads to read my reviews of each book.
4 of 26: A book you read in school.
Of Mice and Men- John Steinbeck
5 of 26: A book that will improve a specific area of your life.
Whatever You Think, Think The Opposite- Paul Arden
6 of 26: A book written by someone who is not a writer.
Rest in Power - Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin
7 of 26: A non-fiction book.
Born a Crime - Trevor Noah
8 of 26: A book someone else recommended to you.
The Te of Piglet - Benjamin Hoff
Tip of the month: Be Nice.
We are often in a rush and find ourselves irritated by little delays. Whether or not it's taking time to explain something again or being stuck behind a slow walker, it's easy to lose patience. It is times like this that we must remember that we are all facing our own private battles. You are not aware of what others are dealing with or what the cause of their odd behavior may be. Try to take a breath and approach the situation with kindness. It's not always easy so here are a few pointers.
Tips to be kind...
- Breathe before responding
- Ask if what you are saying is true and needs to be said
- Understand the difference between opinion and fact
- When a judgemental thought arises, counter it with a positive thought
- Give back to others
- Try to look at the situation from a positive perspective
What to share the Calm Scribe Newsletter? Go ahead! Please forward this message to anyone who might be interested.
Don't forget, your local library can be a great resource. When was the last time you visited?
That is it for this month's newsletter, thank you for your continued support.
Travis J. Croken
Have a suggestion for the recommendation of the month? Email me at travis.croken@me.com.
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